Acquired Ptosis is most commonly related to age-related weakening of the muscle responsible for elevating the eyelid resulting in a drooping eyelid which may affect your field of vision. Surgery aims to correct this weakened muscle and restore your field of vision.

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Acquired Ptosis Correction

What is Acquired Ptosis?

Ptosis is the medical term for drooping of the upper eyelid, a condition that may affect one or both eyes. Ptosis which occurs in early childhood is called congenital. One which presents later is an ‘acquired ptosis’. In severe cases, it may be necessary to tilt the head back or lift the eyelid with a finger in order to see out from under the drooping lid.

What is the cause of Acquired Ptosis?

In most cases, an acquired drooping of the upper eyelid results from ageing. It can also occur due to contact lens wear and appear secondary to inflammation which causes eyelid swelling. Typically the tendon which attaches the ‘lifting’ muscle to the eyelid is stretched, causing the eyelid to droop. Occasionally, the condition can also result from other general conditions such as Myasthenia Gravis.

What happens at surgery?

The treatment involves an operation, usually carried out under local anaesthetic as a day case. Local anaesthetic eye drops are used along with an injection into the upper eyelid to numb the area and dissolvable stitches are used on the skin incision. Under local anaesthetic, levator surgery is performed and a hidden incision is made in the upper lid skin crease and the levator muscle/tendon is tightened.

There are occasions when surgery will be performed under general anaesthetic and this can incorporate the following procedures:

Upper Eyelid Surgery

There are occasions when surgery will be performed under general anaesthetic. This can facilitate multiple procedures:

Skin/Muscle Blepharoplasty (Upper/Lower Lid)

Lower Lid Fat Blepharoplasty

Dermal Fillers

Anti-wrinkle Injections (Botulinum Toxin A)

Photorejuvenation

Peels

Excision of Lumps and Bumps/Skin Tumour

What to expect after surgery?

A dressing may occasionally be applied for 24 hours. The upper eyelid will usually appear slightly swollen which tends to subside over seven to ten days and the wound needs to be kept clean and dry. There should be very little discharge from the wound and if necessary, it may be cleaned with cotton wool/bud using cooled, boiled water. Lubricating eye drops and antibiotic eye drops are prescribed which should be used as directed.

What are the risks and side effects of surgery?

The possible complications of Eyebrow Ptosis include:

There may be bruising and swelling around the eye, therefore it is important to stop aspirin, indomethacin and some herbal medications 2 weeks before surgery

There is a small risk of infection of the eyelid or the eye

There is a possibility of under or over correction of the eyelid, which may require further operation. It is rare that the lid position may be worsened

There is a possibility of inability to close the eyelids permanently

Sometimes, if the second eye has a tendency to droop, it may be more noticeable following this operation